With treatment, asthma can be controlled, although it cannot be cured. Many people with asthma use medicines prescribed by their doctor to prevent or relieve symptoms, and they can learn how to manage flare-ups. Most people with asthma can gain control of illness and live an active life.

Goals of Treatment

Prevent long-term symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath in the early morning, at night or after exercise.

Maintain of your near normal lung tests

Maintain of your normal activity level

Prevent of flare-ups of asthma

No need for emergency room and hospital visits

Provide the best treatment with the little medications as possible and little or no side effects

Satisfy you and your families needs with your asthma care

Effective Treatment Programs

Measures of lung function called pulmonary function tests

Environmental control/clean-up

Medications

Routine asthma visits to your doctor

Learning When to Get Help

People who have asthma should have a plan of how to get medical help quickly in case of a severe attack. Having a friend or partner who can help them get to an emergency room or clinic is a good start.

Common Early Warning Signs

Feeling of being tired

Coughing

Throat tightness or chin tightness

Runny or stuffy nose

Moodiness

Sneezing

Breathing changes

Headache

Trouble sleeping

Poor tolerance for exercise

Downward trends in peak flow breathing test

Dark circles under eyes

What Should I Do During an Attack?

Stay calm

Stop current activity and rest quietly

Use medications as directed

Remove triggers

Get help if symptoms do not get better

Drink water or juice to help mucus stay moist and loose

Encourage coughing—This is to help cough up mucus to assist in opening up the airways

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if:

Your nostrils flare(become larger while breathing in)

Your breathing is faster than normal

You are restless

You cannot take fluid or medication by mouth

Medications are not working

Seek Emergency Care

Seek emergency care if you have one or more of these severe symptoms:

Difficulty thinking or talking

Shortness of breath

Hunched shoulders (posturing)

Use of your neck area, between or below the ribs moving inward to help breathing, called retractions

Gray or blue tint to skin, beginning around your mouth (cyanosis)

If you complain of chest pain and become sweaty

If you continue to wheeze and breath hard, even though you have used your medicines